Electronics International CGR-30P

[Timothy Poole]

Hi,

Has anyone on the list installed the EI CGR-30P to replace all of their primary engine and propeller instrumentation?

Tim

[Charles Schefer]

I have not but I've got my eye on the same unit(s) for my PA-30... eventually...

One thing to note... I talked to EI and in order to get the fuel flow data to be sent to your GPS for things like fuel to destination etc... you have two options.

1) You can have just one of the two units interface with the GPS so all the fuel amounts are roughly 1/2 since they are from only one engine; or,

2) You can also install their little 2.25" fuel flow gauge and that can be used to tie the two together for a single / complete interface to the GPS. Down side is that's another component to buy.

- Charles

[Timothy Poole]

That seems particularly short sighted on their part. You'd think they'd be able to provide a small box that would accept the input from the two EDCs and output the signal needed for a GPS to properly display required fuel.

Tim

[Charles Schefer]

Yes I agree. I spoke to them on the phone about it but it literally is two single engine units put together for a twin. The left and right are independent and know nothing about one another. Nevertheless it's the engine monitor system I currently like the look of the best. Other solutions that replace everything as primary (RPM, MP, etc..) are significantly more expensive and require panel surgery.

EI also has another twin system that uses square shaped boxes (MPV-50 if I recall) and that solution DOES have a box in the middle to aggregate the data but not for the CGR-30P. I guess you can look at it this way... the only thing to aggregate really is the total fuel flow. To do that the FP-5 Fuel Flow unit they have can be that aggregator. I would put it visible in my panel in a 2.25" hole but technically it can be mounted behind / not visible.

Anyway just wanted to share what I learned when I called EI about these units. I'm not about to buy them yet but they are on my wish list.

- Charles

[Timothy Poole]